Angus Beasley, of Adams & Beasley, a remodeling company northwest of Boston, brought up a remarkable quote at a recent Remodelers Advantage Roundtable meeting:
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time. This expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.
No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” —Martha Graham
I was struck by this quote because I think that most business people are plagued by "dis-satisfaction," period. I know I was for a very long time. I could see only what could be better, and I did not take satisfaction in what I had already helped improve.
Finally, I did come to terms with the fact that for whatever reason I would always be working to make things better, even when they were already darn good.
By making that shift mentally, I actually freed up more energy to continue to march, as Graham put it.
What is your attitude about the fact that things are never perfect? Glory in that — instead of beating yourself up. Watch what starts to happen as you take joy in the pursuit of unattainable perfection. In all likelihood your business will become more and more successful because you did. —Paul Winans, a veteran remodeler, now works as a facilitator for Remodelers Advantage, and as a consultant to remodeling business owners. [email protected]
